Sarabjit Singh's murder in a Pakistan jail shocked and bewildered all of us. Occurring early last month, it led to a lot of speculation, with many knots left to be tied up. Soon after, in what seems like sheer retaliation, Sanaullah Ranjay succumbed to his injuries after brutal assault in a Jammu jail. This is not an India-Pakistan fight anymore; it is overstepping humanity itself.
An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind. And it is blind fanaticism here that has led to these two murders. Sarabjit and Sanaullah were two casualties in this blind fight to even the scales. And now their death has made them martyrs--martyrs due to blind, thoughtless actions.
It might be surprising to note the statistics that the Asian Centre for Human Rights offers. According to the report, a total of 14,231 persons (more than four per day) died in police and judicial custody in India from 2001 to 2010. Alarming yet? Here's what Mr Suhas Chakhma, director of ACHR, says: “About 99.99% of deaths in police custody can be ascribed to torture and
occur within 48 hours of the victims being taken into custody."
These are rather depraved statistics. But to look up from it all requires a mere inspection of the mentality of the people. As if India-Pakistan relations weren't strained enough, now we have another boulder in the way. Instead of beholding the two victims as possible preludes to peace, they will be portrayed as martyrs. Tensions will keep rising. More blood will boil. And look, we're back to where we started from.
Possible solutions? Mr Chakhma has an immediate one: that the government should enact the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010. Just because we can't get to the root and change the mentality doesn't mean we become lax and complacent. And this Bill could do a lot to prevent further incidents if enforced appropriately. Since it's not simply an India-Pakistan thing; it's a humanity issue.
